REFLECTIONS FROM OUR LOURDES PILGRIMAGE OF APRIL '11 COMING SOON!					Fundraising Events from our 10th Anniversary Year in 2011
About HCPT HCPT is a national charity which organises pilgrimage holidays to Lourdes in France for people of all ages and abilities. All HCPT passengers travel in Groups, led by an appointed Group Leader. The Leicester Group Within St Peter's, a group is led by Madeleine Kenny, with a team of helpers.  Every Easter, the group of 7-18 year olds from all walks of life, some with varying disabilities and religions, enjoy a visit to Lourdes. This is a “family” for the week, visiting the Lourdes Grotto, Cafés and villages in the Pyrennes. The aim is to give a safe, exciting and enjoyable holiday with the warmth and affection of caring friends. The week of fun and various liturgies culminates with the Trust Mass, with 5,000 in attendance. From Easter to November, parishes in the neighbourhood arrange for adult groups to visit Lourdes. At St Peter’s, John McDermott organises a group in September.						If you would like to make a donation to HCPT Group 215, please see Father John. A reminder below of recent fundraisers - Thanks to all who supported these and made them such a success. 50km walk in Lourdes - 5 & 6 February We aim to raise £3,000. If you would like to sponsor us, please go to - www.justgiving.com/50kmwalk Curry Night - 2 March Four course meal for £12.50 per person at the Dhaka Deli on Narborough Road on Wednesday 2nd March. Entre: Popadoms and dips; Starters: Chicken Tikka, Sheek Kebab, Samosas (veg/meat), Onion Pakora; Mains: Chicken Korma, Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Karahi, Spinach with mixed vegetables, Chick pea and potato curry. Rice: Pilau or boiled. Naan: Plain, Peshwari, Garlic; Desserts: Coffee or ice-cream. Family Disco - 5 March At St Patrick’s Church Hall on Saturday 5th March. Italian Lunch & Quiz - 10 April At St Peter's Church Hall on Sunday 10th April from about 2.00pm ‘til 6pm. Three course meal of Garlic Bread, Lasagne, Dessert. £10 per person. Cooked by John who runs a very good Italian restaurant in Hinckley.

"Many of you will remember John White (who died in 2007).  He was a member of St Peter’s Parish for many years and, because of him, many people in this parish (as well as many other parishes and schools in Leicestershire) became involved in HCPT - either with an Easter group or a Hosanna House group.

John wanted others to experience the joy that he got from going to Lourdes with HCPT. He would sit at the back of church on a Saturday night and after Mass would chat to people about his next/previous trip to Lourdes.  For about ten years, he asked me to join the HCPT pilgrimage.  Those of you who knew John will know that he was very persuasive and it was often hard to say no to him. I stood my ground and said no – better men and women had fallen at the first hint of persuasion from John but I wasn’t going to give in that easily.

Eventually though, I succumbed.  I foolishly thought that if I went once, John would stop asking, but it didn’t work like that.  John, unbeknown to me, had other plans.  He invited me to his house for ‘a chat’ and when I got there I found another gentleman, Dr Tony Jarvis, was there also.  John and Tony chatted away to me about their experiences of going to Lourdes with HCPT and asked me lots of questions.  Tony seemed to be making notes but I wasn’t unduly worried.  It wasn’t until the end of our ‘chat’ that I really knew what was going on.  Tony thanked me for offering to start a new HCPT group in Leicester!  He explained that I would need to do two years with another group and then, in 2001, could set up my own group.  I was a bit shocked, I hadn’t been to Lourdes with HCPT once – how was I going to set up my own group?

In 1999, I joined the newly formed Rugby group and travelled to Lourdes with them in 2000.  This was an amazing experience.  John was right; Lourdes with HCPT was like nothing I had ever experienced before.

In 2000, I became deputy of the Rugby group and was more involved in the organisation of the group – interviewing helpers, visiting children in their homes and fundraising.  Easter 2001 was just as amazing as Easter 2000.

When I came back from Lourdes, the hard work really started.  I set up the Leicester group and we first travelled in 2002 taking 6 children and 14 helpers.  We have travelled every Easter since and Easter 2011 will be our 10th pilgrimage."
Madeleine Kenny

Thank you for supporting the work of HCPT Group 215

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Photos and Videos

Below you will see photos and videos from our previous pilgrimages - enjoy!

HCPT Easter Pilgrimages to Lourdes - Group Photos 2002-2010

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HCPT Easter 2007 Pilgrimage to Lourdes - Video Collage at Gavarnie

HCPT Easter 2009 Pilgrimage to Lourdes - Photo Collage

HCPT Easter 2010 Pilgrimage to Lourdes - Photo Collage